Abdul Ghani

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development plans to open 10 new stations abroad to expand services for an additional 4 million expatriates facing growing challenges, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan. Over 5,600 Pakistani nationals are currently incarcerated in Saudi Arabia, with many falling victim to human trafficking networks and illegal practices.

These networks exploit migrant workers, particularly those holding fraudulent passports. Saudi law prohibits employers from withholding passports, yet a significant number of workers remain unaware of their legal rights. According to the document, the ministry has outlined key recommendations.

Firstly, it was recommended that the ministry, in coordination with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, formulate and notify a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the offloading of passengers at international airports. This SOP should specify the legal grounds, verification steps, escalation mechanisms, and timelines to ensure a fair treatment of expatriates.

Secondly, a visible and accessible complaint and redressal mechanism should be established at all international airports, including a dedicated help desk and an online appeal facility to ensure that passengers who are wrongly offloaded may obtain timely assistance. Thirdly, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis should ensure that information concerning passenger rights, complaint channels, and appeal procedures is prominently displayed at all immigration counters and communicated through appropriate public awareness channels.

Moreover, an Overseas Pakistanis Coordination Cell should be established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure effective coordination among various ministries. According to the document, the expansion of stations and establishment of new mechanisms mark a crucial step toward supporting millions of expatriate Pakistanis and addressing their concerns effectively.

Credit: INP-WealthPk